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Bragging rights in the family Tour de France game have been few and far between in the last few years – I was Lanterne Rouge last year if I recall. Still – onwards and upwards. What do we think about … Continue reading
I am sick to death of mindlessly browsing the web to read other people’s anger about English football and Brexit.
Instead its time to mindlessly browse the web looking for minor details in the stage rankings of the Tour de F
rance.
Our annual competition for bragging rights has been extended to a wider circle so we can trash talk each other as much as is needed to lift the gloom. Our glorious league of 7 is nothing compared to the 33,000 who have signed up to the whole competition, but of course it is the only one that matters.
Bring it on.
www.velogames.com for your own entries?
There may be lawns to mow, bikes to ride and repair, dog to walk, emails to send.
But the week before the Tour de France the annual challenge has been issued and only one task matters. Building a Tour de France team to beat my brothers and my son.
This is a great way of bringing some extra entertainment to our watching, even if we really want the British riders to do well we can add some spice by hoping for a daily win. Not that I need any incentive, it looks like the most exciting Tour in years.
So here, unveiled for the first time is this year’s I Do Not Despair roster over on www.velogames.com , our chosen platform.
On Monday I will be reporting in from the top of the Muy de Huy as the race goes for an exciting stage finish at the top of the climb used for the annual Fleche Wallonne classic race in the spring time. With temperatures over 30 degrees at the moment it might be a long hot ride down there, but I have had this day in my diary all year, so I’m going, cooked or not.
Not much prospect of a Belgian winner on the Mur as Philippe Gilbert is injured, but apparently they are expecting over 100,000 spectators to this little town for the finish in this ampitheatre of sport.
One year ago I promised I would wear yellow on my Sunday bike ride to celebrate the first ever British winner of the Tour de France.
I think it is time to dust off the colours again, this time to celebrate Chris Froome which is going to make it an extraordinary double for those of us who have endured years of cycling starvation. My Belgian club probably won’t even register the colour change, but I will know.
I cannot bring myself to celebrate the fact that he carries the brand of the loathsome Murdoch empire but I can’t help but enjoy yet another three weeks of wheeled chess on the roads.
Two more good reasons too – firstly family bragging rights in the in Fantasy Tour de France competition – sorry boys, eat my shorts! Maillot Jaune pour moi.
Finally even if Froome was not riding under the British flag (Belgian TV will only call him “the white Kenyan”) I think his win is cause for celebration among another special group of cyclists. Let’s hear it for the nodding donkeys, the people whose style doesn’t leave the purists humming, the upright, those of us who cannot bend like a hairpin and lie sleekly over our handlebars.
Not for us the smooth style of Wiggins or the low frontal area of Cavendish, the silky descending of Nibali.
I was prepared to take Dan Martin as our hero for the year, but let’s face it, Chris Froome is for us.
Bring out your yellow on Sunday and celebrate.
I Do Not Despair 